ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 7, 2013) – Malaysia said its embassy in the Philippines shall remain open despite clashes between its security forces and followers of the Sultanate of Sulu on the oil-rich island of North Borneo which is being claimed by both sides.
The fighting, which began earlier this month, had already killed dozens of people in several areas in North Borneo, just hours by speedboat from the Filipino province of Tawi-Tawi.
Some 200 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III headed by his younger brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram sailed to North Borneo in February and demanded recognition from Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur flatly rejected this that resulted in a standoff.
Brunei handed over North Borneo to the Sultanate of Sulu for helping it quell a rebellion many centuries ago, but Malaysia annexed the island after leasing it from Britain which ruled the territory from Sultan Jamalul Kiram II. Malaysia still pays so-called “cession” money to the heir of the Sulu Sultanate.
President Benigno Aquino also called on the followers of Sultan Jamalul to surrender peacefully and put an end to bloodshed in North Borneo. But this call drew strong criticism from many Muslims and various patriotic and civil groups, saying Aquino, should have put first the country’s interest and safety of Filipinos fighting in North Borneo over Malaysia.
Aquino also threatened to file criminal charges against the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu for failing to pay taxes from cession money paid by Malaysia and for endangering the lives of some 800,000 Filipinos, mostly natives of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, residing in North Borneo.
“As the current security situation at the Embassy and Consulate General, as well as their immediate vicinity remains calm and is under control, both Diplomatic Missions will remain open unless the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies otherwise,” Malaysia said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also monitoring unrest and anti-Malaysia rallies in Manila. Just recently, dozens of Filipinos carrying placards denouncing Malaysia’s assault on the group of Sultan Jamalul, held a rally outside the Malaysian Embassy in Makati City.
“The demonstrators were believed to represent a small number of local interest groups to voice their views about the situation in Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia. The demonstration ended without any untoward incident,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
It also praised Aquino’s administration for protecting the safety of Malaysians in the Philippines.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia expresses its utmost appreciation to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, in particular the Philippine National Police, for providing the necessary security protection to the Malaysian Embassy in Manila and also to the Malaysian Consulate General in Davao City,” it said.
Malaysia has branded Sultan Jamalul’s group as terrorists following deadly clashes in Lahad Datu and Semporna.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur J. Eduardo Malaya met with his Malaysian counterpart Dato Sri’ Anifah Aman and Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zamid Hamidi and Malaysian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman and other officials to discuss peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Dato Sri’ Anifah said: “Malaysia considers this group as terrorists following their atrocities and brutalities committed in the killing of Malaysia’s security personnel, two in Lahad Datu and six in Semporna, Sabah. Secretary Rosario agreed that this group should be labelled as terrorists.”
“Malaysia needs clarifications about the law that these terrorists will be charged with in the Philippines, and for the law to be studied by Malaysia’s Attorney General; I also emphasised that actions need to be taken against Jamalul Kiram for his many statements inciting hatred and violence,” he added.
Dato Sri’ Anifah, quoting Secretary Del Rosario also said: “In his response, Secretary Rosario informed me that the Philippine Government deplores the action of the intruders. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of fallen security personnel and Malaysian public. Secretary Rosario guaranteed that the Philippine Government will charge the Sulu group involved in Lahad Datu and Semporna to the fullest extent of the law in the Philippines.”
Ambassador Malaya said “the report is out of context.”
“In Semporna, there were alleged acts of terrorism. As reported by the Malaysian Foreign Minister, after the police forces were lured into an ambush and killed, their bodies were brutally mutilated and desecrated. If indeed these atrocities were committed as reported to him, the Secretary and the Foreign Minister both agreed that these were, at the very least, terroristic acts,” Malaya said.
Sultan Jamalul on Thursday declared a unilateral cease-fire after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to both sides to resolve the conflict peacefully. Malaysia has not responded to the appeal. (Mindanao Examiner)
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